He was the only one of the family to survive what Francois Maurois, in his introduction, calls the "human holocaust" of the persecution of the Jews, which began with the restrictions, the singularization of the yellow star, the enclosure within the ghetto, and went on to the mass deportations to the ovens of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. There are unforgettable and horrifying scenes here in this spare and sombre memoir of this experience of the hanging of a child, of his first farewell with his father who leaves him an inheritance of a knife and a spoon, and of his last goodbye at Buchenwald his father's corpse is already cold let alone the long months of survival under unconscionable conditions. Most of the album is inspired by Delta blues, and Rea explains that "it's less aggressive than Chicago blues, and the guitar playing has a style I call curling: there are some notes that are not a sharp or a flat, but a bend of emotion. It's a mournful sound, and Delta people sing about deep pain, deep fear, and trying to save one's soul. Chicago players sing about girls and booze. Delta bluesmen were singing to the sky; Chicago bluesmen developed their stage act by singing to people who were drinking. It's a big difference". Particularly inspired by his original influence to take slide guitar, Charley Patton, others are Son House, Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson and Robert Johnson. [10] Release [ edit ]

This area of land was formally established in 1787 when the enclosure Act for Calverton (which included this part of Stony Stratford) decreed that 'the piece of land called Horsefair was to remain open and unenclosed'. Situated in the Historic Town of STONY STRATFORD is this Victorian THREE bedroom with living room, kitchen/dining room, cloakroom with shower, enclosed rear garden, three bedrooms, two doubles and one that could be used as a study, family shower room and gas central heating. Starred Review. A fresh, much-needed inquiry into a misunderstood yet urgently relevant era." - BooklistThe town had many spellings and derivations - in 1202 Stony Stratford appears as Stani Stratford. In 1257 Stony Stratford appears to be the accepted form, although Stretteford is quoted in 1290. As early as 1296 the northern section of the town was recorded as Old Stratford. It was 1270 when the first shop is mentioned in Stony Stratford, and then a capital Messuage in 1300. In 1391 a 'grant of pavage' was issued for four years to repair the King's Highway between the two Stratfords (probably Fenny & Stony). It wasn't until 1555 that any national policy was forthcoming - when a Parliamentary act placed obligation upon each Parish for maintaining its own highway by 'Statute Labour' i.e. the labour and equipment to be provided gratuitously for one week in the year by the parishioners working under the (unqualified) Parish Surveyor. In actuality, this probably involved tipping a few loads of stones into the deepest and muddiest holes! The Manorial records show Churchway appearing several times between 1373 and 1386, the Stone Bridge (called Stanbrygge) appears in 1380, Mill Lane (called Millepathus or Myllepath) occurring in 1335. See Map below. Stony Road is a testament to Chris Rea’s profound songwriting and musical talents, contributing to his enduring legacy as one of Britain’s most respected and influential musicians. The song’s introspective nature showcases Rea’s ability to connect with audiences on a deep emotional level, solidifying his place in the music industry.

Let the blare of Negro jazz bands and the bellowing voice of Bessie Smith singing the Blues penetrate the closed ears of the colored near-intellectuals until they listen and perhaps understand.

Chris Rea drew inspiration for Stony Road from his personal experiences and observations. The song reflects his own struggles and the battles faced by many people in their journey towards self-discovery and redemption. 2. What is the significance of the title, Stony Road? The title Stony Road symbolizes the arduous and challenging path that one must traverse in life. It represents the hurdles and obstacles individuals encounter on their personal journeys towards finding inner peace and purpose. 3. How does Stony Road resonate with listeners? In the USA, this is a time for hope and concern. There are many issues in play regarding race, but the element of racism is at the top of the list. Many of my GR friends know of my interest in what happened to the USA in the 19th century period after the Civil War. This was a war that was fought because the USA could not continue to exist “half slave and half free.” The rise of the railways - and the industry they brought with them - also coincided with poor harvests and a decline in agriculture in the middle decades of the century. The net result was a dramatic growth of towns like Wolverton, New Bradwell and Stony Stratford and a decline in many rural villages - several losing up to 30% of their population.